Shays talks to Editorial Board

News-Times, The (Danbury, CT)

Published 8:00 pm, Friday, October 24, 2008

"My opponent falsely says that I vote with Bush most of the time," Shays said during an editorial board meeting with The News-Times on Friday. "The fact is I've voted with Bush an average of 52 percent of the time in the last seven years."

Shays said he's been at the "forefront of change" during his 21 years in Congress. He said he pushed for higher fuel economy standards -- 40 miles per gallon -- as part of the Energy for Our Future Act in 2005, "when nobody was doing anything on renewables."

He said he also supported creating a new regulator for Fannie Mae and Freddie-Mac in 2005, and again this year cosponsored a bill calling for more regulation, which was signed into law as part of the Foreclosure Prevention Act.

"I am on the cutting edge of issues," he said.

In response to allegations made by his opponent, Democrat Jim Himes, that he has done little to bring federal dollars into the region for transportation projects, Shays said he has brought millions.

Shays said he supported a $14 million study that began a few years ago about how to create a tunnel or bridge into the state from New York City that could increase freight transportation via the rails.

On transportation, Shays said he "is doing more than most. My philosophy is that we have to get people and freight off the roads and onto the rails and water."

Shays said he brought more than $67 million into the district through earmarks last year. While many politicians this year -- including Republican presidential candidate U.S. Sen. John McCain -- have called for an end to earmarks, Shays said they have their place.

"I absolutely disagree with McCain on that," Shays said, adding that many local projects are funded through earmarks. "I don't believe in pork, I do believe in earmarks. I do everything in my power to help people in my district."

When it comes to Iraq, Shays said he also differs with McCain, who doesn't support a time line for withdrawal.

"We need a time line based on success and failure," he said. "As they step up, we step down. The troop surge has worked extremely well and has enabled us to bring troops home."

Some military, however, must remain in Iraq, Shays said, to continue training Iraqi troops, secure the hospitals, and make sure the Iraqi Army doesn't turn around and try to dismantle democracy in the country.

"We also have to make sure the rest of the neighbors don't think (Iraq) is a ground to play in," he said.

When it comes to immigration reform, Shays said there "is no perfect answer." The congressman has proposed a blue card program that would register illegal immigrants.

While the program would allow illegal immigrants to legally work in the United States, pay taxes and buy a house or car, it would not provide a pathway to citizenship.

"I've spoken to a lot of immigrants and what they want is to be able to go home and come back and get a job legally," Shays said. "We will not see a law pass (Congress) that will make them citizens. There is not enough support from American people for that."

He added that deporting the 13 to 20 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. "would create chaos" and "divide the country."

"A blue card would enable them to work legally and let us know who is here," Shays said. "If they refuse to register they can't get a job."